Heartland held to draw by visiting Ahly, JS Kabylie win
Oluwashina Okeleji BBC Sport, Lagos
Samson Siasia's first game in charge of Heartland ends in a draw
Six time winners Al Ahly of Egypt held Nigeria's Heartland of Owerri to a 1-1 draw in their African Champions League Group B match on Sunday.
Bello Musa Kofarmata gave the Nigerians the lead, only for Mohamed Aboutrika to equalise for the visitors.
The game was the first in charge for new Heartland coach Samson Siasia who was appointed just a week ago.
In the day's other game in Group B, visitors JS Kabylie of Algeria beat Ismaili of Egypt 1-0.
Heartland shot into a deserved lead four minute into the second half, after the first was marred by flurry of misses.
Bello Musa Kofarmata was at the right place to tap in from close range, following a brilliant run and low cross from John Owoeri in the 49th minute.
Ikechukwu Ibenegbu should have doubled the host's lead in the 65th minute but his brilliant strike came off the crossbar
With time running out, Ahly introduced veteran Mohammed Barakat and the former BBC African footballer of the year made an instant impact.
His run in the Heartland box was rashly halted by Captain Emmanuel Olowo forcing the referee to point at the spot.
Mohammed Abouterika calmly converted the resulting penalty by beating goalkeeper Austin Brown in the 75th minute and the game ended in a draw despite both sides having late chances.
In Egypt, visitors JS Kabylie of Algeria took the lead in Group B with a narrow 1-0 victory over their hosts Ismaili.
The game was goalless until deep into the second half, when defender Essaid Belkalem headed home from a corner to give Kabylie the victory.
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